Outpatients

Risk of:

• Infection.

Possible causes:

• Exposure to infected body fluids or patients.
• Inappropriate equipment / unsuitable chairs for sampling bloods.

Risk of:

• Cold Burns.
• Health Effects.
• Fire.
• Back injury.

Possible causes:

• Exposure to liquid nitrogen.
• Exposure to Carbon dioxide gas.
• Mistreatment, poor storage or handling of gas cylinders.

Risk of:

• Burns.
• Electric shock.
• Death.
• Fire.

Possible causes:

• Faulty equipment.
• No or poor maintenance of equipment.
• Improper use of equipment.

Risk of:

• Pain in neck, back or arms.

Possible causes:

• Carrying out repetitive tasks without a break e.g. taking blood samples.
• Poorly set up workstations or equipment.
• Poor ergonomic design of human-machine interfaces e.g. use of ultrasound machines.
• Awkward or sustained posture.
• Badly designed chart trolleys.
• Carrying heavy charts.
• Lack of space for storing and accessing charts.

Risk of:

• Smoke inhalation.
• Burns.
• Death.

Possible causes:

• Overloaded sockets or extension leads.
• Faulty equipment.
• No or poor maintenance of equipment.
• Blocked fire exits.

Risk of:

• Sprains, strains or back injury.

Possible causes:

• Lifting heavy charts.
• Poorly designed trolleys.
• Handling gas cylinders.
• Catching a falling or collapsing patient.
• Lifting equipment up and over uneven surfaces.

Risk of:

• Infections.
• Cuts.

Possible causes:

• Needlestick injury.

Risk of:

• Physical injury and /or psychological harm.

Possible causes:

• Dealing with aggressive members of the public.
• Patient's reaction to procedures such as taking blood.

For further information on related controls click here.